Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 August 1895 — BIT FOR BOOKWORMS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BIT FOR BOOKWORMS

The sum paid for the English rights of “The Memoirs of Barras” is said to have been four thousand dollars. “A Study In Prejudices" is the title of the new novel by George Paston, author of “A Modern Amazon.” This story Is described as fresh and modern In conception. The American edition of the Bookman has far outstripped its English name- - sake in interest As the case stands now, the tail is wagging the dog, and the English Bookman is a pretty good paper, too. “Sentimental Tommy,” Mr. J. M. Barrie’s new story, relates the tale of the life of a poor boy In a great city. Mr. Barrie has now taken up his residence in London and is supposed to be ;nakIng studies there. The author’s favorito attitude, it is said, is reclining on the rug before the Are, where he smokes in peace with his great St. Bernard beside him; he does not like chairs. It is noted, also, that in company he preserves extraordinary intervals of silence; but he is always quick to catch and applaud some elever speech from those around him. ~, Hector Malot announces that, having made a fortune, he has retired from literature. He has worked hard, having studied the theory of heat to write one book, spent three months in tho cotton factories for another, and, he tells us, eVen spent the same length of time exploring the ruins of Rome. He chose his own subjects and indulged his own tastes, and let no editor, not eVen M. Buloz, browbeat him. Inasmuch, however, as he says that he has in his desk sketches for ten more novels, and plots for others in his head, the New York Tribune thinks that that retirement has somewhat the air of a “positively final last appearance.’’ “Tay Pay” O’CoUnorTuncTied with Maeterlinck not long ago, and writes of him: “He Is an excellent fellow. In appearance he is a typical Flemish man —stoufish, broad-faced, and with the singularly open and good-natured expression of his race. - I am told by his Intimates that hejs one of the most modest, and I could see that he is one of the most unassuming, of men. He speaks English well, and Is Intimately acquainted with English literature—especially with George Meredith. Hitherto he has not made or tried to make any money out of his dramas; but he is getting popular, and by and by may get rich.” j Cupidity Caused Trouble. 4 William McDowell, a well-known farmer diving near Jamesburg, N. J., was sitting on his porch a few nights ago, when he saw three boys approaching on a run. The boys wore gray suits and be at once supposed they were runaways from the reform school. He resolved to capture all three and thus add sls to his savings. He Secured a tough hickory club from the wood pile and hid behind an oak tree on the side of the road. As the first boy attempted to pass McDowell seized him. Before the boy realized what had happened he was on the ground together with the second boy and MeDowell standing' over them both in a threatening attitude. The boys tried to explain, - While they were parleying McDowell saw three more boys running through his cornfield. They wore the same gray suits and he determined to capture the entire lot of boys. The boys soon convinced him that his contract was more than he could carry out Then the boys had a chance to explain that they were members of a base-ball team, which accounted’ for the similarity of their suits. They expected to enter a foot race on July 4 and were training for the event when the farmer attempted to capture them. The case came into Squire Lucas’ court That worthy was puzzled to know how to make the punishment fit the crime. Before he 'decided the farmer had persuaded the boys to withdraw the complaint